River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-02-10

anu Netl me-
look here, sir she said, suddenly
stopping her grief. and looking at me
with a dangerous and rcsOlute face,
'.yOu tell me what YOU know.-I can
/ see YOU know-and III tell YOU what |
know. and III help you too. And
I you II want help
Is anybody abOut?n j asked.
mo one won't be back for a good
hour Vet. she said. IL know where
they've gone to.
She took me through the inner gar
den into a sort Of scullery. whence
could get egress TO the hall without
much risk, in case of need. And then
/ told her as briefly as / could the cir
cumstances that led TO my being in the
corridor. and the tragedy that l had
witnessed.
Mrs. Hardy did not give way to the
/ violent demonstrations of grief that /
! had feared. She was evidently in
some mysterious way prepared for the
worst. Her one thought now seemed
to be revenge.
Now, Mrs. Hardy" l said. ..you
know what my interests are here.
How eau I save Miss Fortescue. and
WHIST T. h,' motive of their keeping
her hidden away Ike this?"
Then she gave me her version of the
story. which seemed very likely TO be
the true one.
They have spent her money-that's
what they've DONE" said She And
they don't want her to get out so as
no one shouldn't put it into her head
to stand up for herself, ard ask ques-
tons"
Then what is DR.. Plowitz's inter
est in marrying her?'
. Cause he fancies her II he gets
her he can keep her mouth shut
..But If he marry her. whas can pre-
vent his turning round and demanding
an account Of her fortune from her
giIarliau?"
ale demand! They're all IN the
same boat ="
What do YOU mean?''
They re al in the same line Of bus
ines; and my poor man was in it too
..What j. it?"
Making money"
'OoUntcrtclt cOIn?
mo. not azackly It's very good
coin. almost rs good as the real thing. ="
Before our Interview terminated
had impressed on Mrs Hardy the ne
cc>>ity for the utmost prudence, and
had secured her promise TO assist me il
eilcctiug the rescue of Mary. Before
that could be done | must secure an
ally outside. Then suddenly thought
OF DR.. Shaw. The very man! / would
write 70 him and consult him, and get
Mrs. Hardy 10 post the letter.
An alarm Of the return of some of
the abSeutees brought cur interview TO
hurried conclusion. l felt now like
a new nan. With q friend in the
enemy's camp my worst fears We're
allaved / must. however get some
writing materials. and communicate
with Shaw at once. dressed for din
uer early that evening, and determined
+ TO secrc;e some pens and paper from
the drawiug-rOom as soon as Mrs.
BeaUfoy had gone up to dress.
The moment arrived, and | was alone
for At least half an hour. a small
writing-table. with all appliances. stood
against the wall. ! sat down and be-
gan hastily to write. 1t would not do.
Nv mind was in such turmoil that
wrote incoherently, and Shaw would
think me mad, especially a. / had not
informed him in any way of my recov-
cry. | tore one or two attempts into
pieces and threw them into the fire.
Then / seemed to get into the vein
7 Of straightforward fiuency | desired.
very briefly explained the outline OF
the circumstances. and begged him
somehow To procure an interview with
me with a little delay as possible, but
in no way 10 arouse my suspicion. TC
write TO Mr.. Beaufoy and invite US
over would be, perhaps, the safest way.
\ finished the note. folded it. put il
+ into an envelope, and was just begin
ming 10 address it when something
caused me to look up into a small mir
ror which hung over the table. The
next moment a white hand was on my
shoulder; and the Basilisk's beautiful
eyes were looking round into mine, as
She laughed an inscrutable sort of laugh
and said very teuderly:
SO, we can write in spite of om
blindness. Can we read tOog'
ITO BE CONTINUED.